Jacobsen Pilot Service, the exclusive pilotage provider for the Port of Long Beach, California, has purchased an Artemis EF-12 Pilot vessel from clean maritime company Artemis Technologies. The order will introduce the first commercial electric hydrofoil pilot boat in the U.S.

A major advancement in sustainable maritime operations in the U.S., the Artemis EF-12 Pilot vessel will bring innovative zero-emission maritime technology to one of the nation's busiest and most environmentally progressive ports. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in late 2027.

For more than a century, Jacobsen Pilot Service has provided safe and reliable pilotage services to the Port of Long Beach. Its investment in the Artemis EF-12 Pilot will support the Port’s environmental and decarbonization ambitions while advancing safe, efficient and sustainable pilot boat operations.

The Artemis EF-12 Pilot, powered by Artemis Technologies' proprietary eFoiler® technology, uses advanced hydrofoils to lift the vessel's hull above the water, dramatically reducing drag and energy consumption. The result is a high-performance vessel that delivers improved efficiency and stability, reduces emissions and operating costs, and meets the demanding operational requirements of pilot transfer services.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to cover approximately 30% of Jacobsen’s annual operating hours and is projected to save approximately 40,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year, equivalent to around 400 metric tons of CO2, reducing emissions from Jacobsen’s pilot boat operations at the Port of Long Beach.

Designed for the demands of pilot transfer, the Artemis EF-12 Pilot foils during transit to and from the pilot boarding area, then comes off its foils into displacement mode for the transfer alongside the ship, where its active flight control system helps keep the vessel stable. Foiling transit significantly reduces the motion, vibration and noise experienced on board, helping pilots arrive on the bridge better rested ahead of complex maneuvers in one of the nation’s busiest ports.

The vessel will carry up to four pilots and two crew, with a service speed of 25 knots. It will be charged by a dedicated DC fast charger being installed at Jacobsen’s dock and will operate alongside Jacobsen’s existing fleet to maintain around-the-clock pilotage service.

David Tyler, Co-Founder and Managing Director, North America, Artemis Technologies, says:

This agreement represents an important milestone for Artemis Technologies: the first delivery of the Artemis EF-12 Pilot in the U.S. The Port of Long Beach’s drive to decarbonize makes this an ideal location to introduce our Artemis eFoiler® technology to the U.S. market. Together, we are demonstrating how innovative vessel technology can reduce emissions while maintaining the critical safety, reliability and performance that operators depend upon every day.

Tom Jacobsen, President & CEO, Jacobsen Pilot Service, says:

This partnership is a significant step for us in establishing a new benchmark for sustainable pilot boat operations in the maritime sector. At JPS, we’ve always put innovation at the forefront of our work in the Port, from installing the first commercial shore-side radar system in the U.S. in 1949 to operating carbon fiber pilot boats today. We’ve seen first-hand the benefits of reduced weight and lower maintenance. After experiencing the eFoiler® technology in both San Francisco and Belfast, we’re confident we can provide the Port of Long Beach and our pilots and crew a safe and efficient solution for cleaner port operations. Thank you to the SWIFT program at the Port of Long Beach for supporting this mission and helping us work toward our shared goal of zero emissions in the Port by 2050.

Dr. Noel Hacegaba, CEO, The Port of Long Beach, says:

The Port of Long Beach is proud to utilize California State Transportation Agency funding to support zero-emissions technology such as the Artemis EF-12 Pilot vessel, the nation’s first eFoiler® vessel to be commercially deployed. This supports our quest to build the Port of the Future and our ongoing goal to become the world’s first zero-emissions port, demonstrating that we can clean up as we scale up.

Jacobsen Pilot Service has been awarded $3,233,596 through the Port of Long Beach’s System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT) program, funded by the California State Transportation Agency’s Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, to support the purchase of the vessel. The program supports projects that advance cleaner goods movement and improve air quality at the Port of Long Beach. For more information, visit the Port of Long Beach website.

The purchase reflects growing global demand for Artemis’ high-performance maritime solutions, which have already attracted customers across Europe and the Middle East. While this will be the first commercial deployment of an eFoiler® vessel in the U.S., other Artemis vessels are operating or scheduled for deployment in those markets.